What is a ketogenic diet? This is a diet that is high in fat and protein but with no carbohydrates. With this diet, it can force the body into a state of ketosis whereby ketones are used as a fuel source instead of glucose.
A ketogenic diet is used for the treatment of epilepsy and for weight loss. In fact, if you have heard of this diet before, you might have heard about it because of body builders who use this as their diet during their “cutting” phase wherein they attempt to burn as much fat as possible while retaining their muscle mass. This diet has gained popularity because of the extensive media coverage of low/no carb diets like Atkins.
It is normal for people to ask if this ketogenic diet is healthy or safe. You must know that this will suit some people but not everyone. Depriving the body of carbohydrates can place an essential strain on the body specifically liver and kidney function. There are a lot of people who will feel fatigued during the first few weeks of ketosis as this is the time when the body is adapting to the use of ketones as a fuel source. Ketones are a byproduct of fat metabolism.
There are a lot of opposite schools of thought when it comes to the safety of a ketegonic diet. However, because of the fact that a lot of epilepsy sufferers have successfully been using ketosis for years, it certainly gives the diet some credit.
It is important to keep in mind before you have that ketogenic diet menu is this diet must be done carefully. A lot of people who start the diet stop it within a few days because of fatigue and other difficulties. It is very important that you consult your doctor first before you start a ketogenic diet. Have your health assessed first so there won’t be any problems in the near future.
One must always remember that a ketogenic diet is mainly for people with epilepsy. Yes, it can be used for weight loss but as said above, you have to have your health assessed first by professionals before you go on with this diet. The good news is that there are a lot of people who are trying to lose weight proved that this diet worked for them and they have managed to lose a significant amount of weight.